Norristown goes green

Download 40-page tabloid in single pages

Download 40-page tabloid in spreads

In 2012, Norristown, Pennsylvania embarked on an innovative program to cleanse its air and water funded by a $2.2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). Landscapers planted 2,078 shade trees in Norristown parks and on school grounds, in riparian areas near Stony Creek and Saw Mill Run, and along Norristown streets.

As the trees grow over the next 50 years, they will absorb millions of gallons of storm water and prevent it from overwhelming Norristown's sewer systems.

In the past, PENNVEST has dispensed $6.5 billion in loans and grants to Pennsylvania municipalities and utilities for "hard" infrastructure: water and sewer treatment plants, storm sewers, and sanitary sewers. This project is one of the most significant investments PENNVEST has made in green infrastructure rather than bricks and mortar projects to control storm water.

To explain the benefits of green infrastructure, an illustrated report was compiled by Save Our Land, Save Our Towns Inc.

The report was published as a 40-page tabloid supplement in the Sept. 12, 2012 edition of the Norristown Times Herald. It can be downloaded, above, as a pdf file.